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FRA sends advisory to passenger railroads
Adding the 2nd crewmember, by far, will the reason the railroads will install PTC even faster now, what? Pay 2 people when we can only pay for one? Watch how fast PTC will be done now.
Sounds like appropriate, common-sense actions to me, realizing the requirement of the second "“qualified” crew member is only temporary. Britt, I hope the additional cost does expedite the installation of PTC.
How, exactly will this second person in the cab work. I would suppose the workforce is currently sized for the current staffing requirements. Adding a second person to every VRE train, for example, would mean they have to go out and hire some folk, train and qualify them. The might take the better part of a year, only to turn around in a year or two later when PTC is finally in place.
This assumes they can get the funding to do it.
Or do they scavenge the staff from existing trains by cutting service?
Just where does this 2nd operator ride while underway, in a cab designed for one operator? somewhere in the first row of seats behind the operator possibly? And who’s going to pay to modify all the cab’s for an additional operator? Not the FRA I’m pretty sure.
Don, Very good point you make. I suppose it all depends on their definition of the term “qualified”. Maybe temp. 96.8, breathing, decent eyesight and hearing will suffice ! They could ask for volunteers I suppose .
Mr. Robert Klippel
We had a dustup over my “outlandish,” cheap, simple to implement, way to get HSC (human Speed Control).
In this reprise, may I emphatically stress that the person has only, one exclusively singular task and it is not to wetnurse or distract the train’ engineer.
That task is to inform the engineer of a high risk of a serious track occupancy or speed violation.
No equipment to purchase. Little if any training…maybe a couple of familiarization “student trips?”
No salary or benefits"cause they’re already on Railroad Retirement and Medicare.
No unemployment when PTC is activated, see above: RRT and Medicare. No recruiting costs, HSC is a Volunteer corps of retired FRA certified engineers and conductors, lavishly equipped with info about speed authorizations and signal aspects and indications…well yeah, they’ll need to know 'pads and laptops
And, if accepted, I,m in my 8th decade, I’ll be number 1 on the volunteer’s list,.
Mr. Klippel,
If a “brave engineer’ in the lingo has “ice in his veins,”
a “qualified engineer” meeting your definition is well on his way, “temp 96.8…”
My outlandish scheme intended to specifically require volunteer, retired (FRA) " certified” engrs and conductorsrs.
Not “qualified,” there’s a big distinction between 'em.
my scheme…see my above comment to RK from NY;
This is only half a story. The actual rule calls for a second person in the cab, OR qualified person in the body of the train, meaning a qualified conductor, who knows where he is all the time and knows the restrictions and speed limits. A very poorly written story. Nothing really new here except a few more speed limit signs, which have probably been needed all along.
Mr. Carlin, You have convinced me that it’s not an “outlandish scheme” at all and I’m sure there are other dedicated, qualified. patriotic individuals like yourself, packed and ready to serve also, and I applaud all of you !
I just remembered. 96.8 is one of my favorite radio stations. I’m sure that none of you would have “ice in his veins” anyway. I hope they give you a call. God’s speed !
This story usesmthe words " FRA expects" and “railroads should” vs “requires” and “shall” so is this a tooth less tiger or a mandate?
John, Very good point you make ! Concerning weather forecasting also, there’s a huge difference between a winter storm advisory and a winter storm warning. In this article it states that the “FRA sends advisory to passenger railroads”. Doesn’t sound like a “mandate” to me. I believe we may have a ‘paper-tiger’ in this case!!